Eield-eence



UNITE l? STATS RANT QFFICE.

JOHN L. WENTVORTH, OF SPREAD EAGLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIELD-FENCE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 25,925, dated October 25, 1859.

T o all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. VENTWORTH, of Spread Eagle, Chester county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in apeculiar manner, fully described hereafter, of constructing the sections of a fence whereby the latter may be made of light and cheap materials, and of great strength and durability.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention I will now proceed to describe its construction and alteration.

On reference to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, Figure l, is a plan View of my improved detachable fence, illustrating three sections of the same, connected together. Fig. 2, a front view, and Figs. 3 and 4, detached sectional views drawn to an enlarged scale and showing the mode of coupling two sections of my improved fence, together.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Each section of my improved fence consists of the two end posts A and B, the upper and lower longitudinal rails C and D, the intermediate longitudinal rails E and F,the intermediate vertical rail Gr, situated midway between the end posts and another vertical rail H, situated close to the end posts B.

The two end posts are of different lengths so that one of them (B) may penetrate a short distance into the ground, on the top of which rests the shorter rail A, so that both rails project to the same height above the ground.

The upper and lower rails C and D, are let into recesses on one side of the posts, and the intermediate rails E and F, into recesses on the opposite side of the posts, to which the rails are secured by light spikes or pins.

The upper and lower longitudinal rails bear on one side, and the intermediate longitudinal rails on the opposite side of the vertical rail G, so that the latter serves to bend the upper and lower rails outward in one direction and the intermediate rails outward in the opposite direction, the pressure thus imparted to the rails having a tendency to maintain them in the recesses of the posts.

It will be observed that the upper and lower rails of each section of the fence, are slightly inclined longitudinally from the end post B to the post A, the upper rail being inclined downward and the lower rail upward, and that both upper and lower rails project a short distance beyond the post A. This arrangement is in order that the projecting portions of the rails of one section of the fence may pass, the upper projecting portion under the upper rail and the lower projecting portion over the lower rail of the adjacent section of the fence, as best observed on reference to Fig. 2.

The vertical bar H of each section bears on one side against the upper and lower rails and on the opposite side against the intermediate rails, and between this bar H and the end post B of one section, pass the projecting ends of the upper and lower rails of the adjacent section, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, each projecting end having a shoulder @a the purpose of which will be rendered apparent hereafter. lVhen the sections of the fence are coupled together the end post A of one section, bears with one of its corners against the side of the end post B, of the adjacent section, and the shoulder :c on the projecting ends of the upper and lower rails of one section bears against the vertical bar H of the fixed section, by which means the two sections are eifectually locked together.

By the peculiar mode of securing the rails to the end posts, and the introduction of the vertical bar G, so as to bend the rails outward, in the manner described, such strength is imparted to resist lateral strains, that the sections may be made of very light material compared with that necessary for constructing fences having ordinary straight rails.

Another advantage of my improved rails is the vertical rigidity imparted to the rails by the Vertical bar G, which connects the whole of the rails together and thus prevents one from being displaced vertically without the other.

Although I have described my improvement as appliedto a worm or zigzag fence,

it will be readily seen that it is well adapted to the construction of ordinary straight fences.

When a very high Jfence is required, three or more intermediate rails may be used, instead of two.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- Constructing each section of a fence, of the two end posts A and B, the upper and lower longitudinal rails C and D, any suitable number of intermediate rails E and F,

and the vertical bar G, when the several parts are arranged in respect to and adapted to each other substantially as and for the 15 two subscribing witnesses.

J. L. WENTWORTH.

Witnesses:

HENRY HowsoN, CHARLES D. FREEMAN. 

